We made it! Details of our whirlwind move!

We made it. And it feels. SO. GOOD.
 After a week of packing the house by myself, Joel got home from a week in Tullahoma just in time to pack this big beauty:

Then he left for his first training in Atlanta on Monday and flew home on Wednesday night and we left around 5am on Thursday morning. The 25 hour drive was relatively peaceful until we got to the horrendous state of Wyoming. I listened to an audiobook every time the girls fell asleep, and it sure helped pass the time!

(Bad quality phone pics, sorry!)

We made it 10 hours on the first day to St. Joseph, MO
 8 hours the next day to Cheyenne, WY
...and it was supposed to be a quick 6 1/2 hours on the last day, but it ended up being more like 8 hours thanks to a terrible ice storm and then a huge wreck that stopped us for almost an hour. Miserable.

Summer was a happy little traveler, such a blessing!

One of the hardest parts was trying to contain the girls' energy once we stopped for the evening in our hotels. They trashed the hotel room (breaking glasses, wooden hangers, TV remotes, etc) within about 20 minutes of checking in. They loved to run the hallways after being strapped in a carseat all day!

For anyone doing a long roadtrip with toddlers, I wouldn't recommend it without 1) lots and lots of DVDs...I kept them on rotation pretty much the entire trip, 2) random little toys and snacks (RINGPOPS!), and 3) *most importantly* children's benadryl tablets snuck into their lunch each day (totally helped them fall asleep without a fight! see below!)

We tried to be very patient with the girls and had to keep reminding ourselves that they didn't really know what was going on and we were putting them through a stressful situation. Poor little babies. At one point in Wyoming, Summer got a dum-dum sucker completely wrapped around in her hair and it was stuck there. Then she barfed on herself. So we stopped and let them run wild in a Subway until they were good and tired. :)


*I forgot the benadryl tabs on our 10 hour drive to Oregon yesterday, and it was by far worse than all 25 hours the week before*. Definitely not making that mistake again. It was torture. 10 hours of whining and crying and NO sleeping. And I was barfing the entire way there because I was sick with a 24hr bug. Oh it was awful. Thankfully Joel was driving this time.

Now we are here with my parents in Oregon, and Joel just flew to Chicago for his last week of training--hallelujah!! Then he'll be back here to spend a whole week for Christmas in Oregon.

Thank you to everyone who helped with our complicated move!! We are so blessed to have so many family and friends that helped us with every minor little detail! We already love living in Utah! xoxo

newsies for yousies

Here's some bittersweet news: we're moving to Salt Lake City, Utah!

Everything happened very quickly--Joel had a phone interview and less than 24 hours later the firm was booking his ticket out to the office in downtown SLC. Then 3 days later there was an offer on the table and we gladly accepted this amazing opportunity! Joel will be an employee of the largest accounting firm in the entire world. I am so proud of him!

So if you're wondering where we're at for the next month, that's a good question! Joel has training for a week in Atlanta, then 3 weeks in Chicago, and then they fly him back to Salt Lake. But hey, remember how we live in Tennessee with two crazy toddlers? (and how I'm preggo? and how its almost Christmas?) Yeah. We have to deal with that. Currently planning like crazy for the big move!

We feel very blessed that this will soon be home:

Update: We will be driving to our new home on December 6th. Joel will be driving the huge moving truck (pulling the Camry) and I will be in the van with the girls. I am already dreading the drive more than anything else. 25 hours in a car with 2 toddlers that normally don't last longer than ONE hour driving around town. Its going to be interesting. 

This conversation happened last night:

S: So I think when the girls start freaking out and screaming, we should pull over and you can drive the van and I'll drive the truck.

J: No, thats a terrible idea. You can't drive the truck pulling the car. 

S: I think you should let me. How about in the middle of Nebraska where there aren't even other cars around?

J: No. You are a terrible driver.

WAHHH WAHHH. 

S & E are going to be big sisters! :)

We got some great news in September...we're expecting a new addition to our family around May 20!

Last week I had my first ultrasound. I was actually really nervous because the last time I had a first ultrasound it started with "There's two in there!"--so even though I knew the chances were slim to none of having twins again, I was SO SO SOOOOOO happy when we saw just one little baby blob swimming around in there. 

 This pregnancy has been completely different so far. A lot of people say that you have a "different" pregnancy with boys and girls, but I think the most obvious reason is just because I have one instead of two.
I have been very sick. There are days when it is a struggle to get off the couch, and changing poopy diapers makes me throw up. Thankfully these sweeties are content to sit around and watch Yo Gabba Gabba all day.

I know they're super bored because when I do finally get the energy to take them for a ride to the grocery store, they yell "WEEE! WEEEEE!" when we are driving. Its hilarious.

This time around, its waterworks central.
I'm normally not a big cry baby, so I knew I was probably pregnant when I cried over the following shows:
The Lucky One, 19 Kids and Counting, Keeping up with the Kardashians, and my personal favorite: Katy Perry: Part of Me
(stop judging me on my TV choices...I can feel your judging all the way over here...)

Then, I started the weird cravings...
GUSHERS. WHY ARE THERE NO GUSHERS IN MY HOUSE?!?!?!

Eggo waffles. Every morning. OR ELSE.
Still not sure what the deal is with these cravings---its so weird because I think the last time I ate eggo waffles or gushers was in elementary school.

Now that I'm almost in my 2nd trimester, all those earlier cravings just make me want to puke. Instead I've moved on to only being able to eat really bland foods, buttery, cheesy, and salty (sounds super healthy, right?). I've actually lost my sweet tooth and can't really eat sweets without getting sick. Definitely not my normal "where's the chocolate?!!" self!

Here's to hoping the next trimester leaves me feeling better!

Summeroo

 

hello fall

I got a little crafty this weekend after a trip to the pumpkin patch :)

This garland was super easy to make (trust me, if it wasn't easy it would have turned into my usual 2-month-project-that-never-gets-finished). I used a little hot glue and pushed eye screws into the tops of the indian corn, then threaded the eye screw onto the rope. Then I hot glued the dried corn husks together over the rope. Done and done!

I used tacks to hold it to the mantel, then tied the ends of the rope so that I wouldn't have to cut it short (just in case I ever live in a place where I have a longer mantel!)

lots o' pics

Well hello there!

Summer can only push this cart when it has some weight in it (or else it flips over on her)--fortunately Emsley loves being pushed around! Its a win-win!

These kiddos LOVE blocks. Actually, I'm not so sure they love the blocks as much as they love smacking down big tall towers made of blocks. I can't even stack more than 2-3 blocks before they come running over and push them down and then laugh!

Emsley loves sitting inside anything that resembles a box or basket. Here is proof:

dear S & E, learn to walk NOW please.

Using this quote as a pick-me-up this week as we haven't been getting good news of any sort the past few months! Just keep swimming, just keep swimming....

Now for some cheesy smiles:

Now for my additional rant because I feel like whining:
Our girls are almost 16 months and still haven't even tried to take a step. Emsley teased me once with a little step when we were waiting at the car dealership, but nothing ever since. Summer won't even stand up and put weight on her legs when you try to make her stand and she just pushes the walker around on her knees. Its ridiculous the things these girls do to avoid having to learn to walk.
They love to stand up by themselves and even maneuver around the couch, but it seems like they have been doing that since last June.

I thought back in May, "Hey, they might take their first step while we are in Oregon in July!"
Then in July I thought, "Oh, we'll definitely be taking walks in August!"
August came and I just knew they would be walking by my birthday (Sep 1st)
And now here we are, September 14th, and I'm seriously wondering if Halloween is going to be a carry-me holiday this year.

I want them to walk SO BAD. I am SOOOOOO tired of carrying them everywhere (they are tall and heavy!!!) and it is such a tease having a park within walking distance of our house, but when we go our stay is limited to a few minutes on the swings. Then we go home while all the other kids run and play on the playground. (And don't think that my girls don't notice!! They want to go on that playground so badly! I just want to yell at them and say "LEARN TO WALK THEN!!" ;)

The curses joys of having preemies. Every milestone is takes forever and ever. Do I miss their cute little chubby baby faces? Of course. Do I miss waiting months and months and months before I could even get one little smile or before they would sit up? No. No I don't.

Here's hoping this post inspires some great walking progress this month!

quirks

One of the many things I love about our girls growing up is that their personalities really start coming out! Yes, they do have the exact same DNA, but NO they definitely don't act the same all the time! Most people at wal-mart like to ask me things like this.
Yes, they are two different people...who look very much alike. :)

Summer has an obsession, and that obsession is named "bunny". Nana got these little silky loveys for the girls at christmas time (remember those ridiculous overflowing stockings?!) and Summer has grown very attached. Emsley just enjoys throwing hers and would much rather play with her glowing seahorse.

The past few weeks Summer has realized that she can sneak back to the nursery and stick her hands through the crib rails, maneuver that little bunny through, and then carry it all the way back to the living room like the proudest little girl in the world. She knows it belongs in her crib (um...you don't want to know how gross my kitchen floor is) so she gets quite the thrill in bringing it everywhere around the house.

Summer also LOVES balls--tennis balls, big bouncy balls, really anything that is round! She will "throw it" and then chase it around, again and again. Adorable.


Now on to Emsley's quirks. Hers are a little strange.

Green beans. This girl will put them in her mouth and suck on them...for hours at a time.
Let me give you a true story timeline:
5pm-dinner, sticks one last green bean in her mouth just as I pull her out of high chair
6pm-mommy notices that emsley hasn't opened her mouth in an hour; suspiciously quiet...

6:15pm-loaded up the girls in the wagon to go to the park...Emsley still has green bean in her mouth
6:30pm--bath time. STILL IN HER MOUTH. refuses to open her mouth when I try to get it out.
7pm--bed time...I literally have to pry this nasty sucked-on green bean out of her mouth so that she will drink her sippy cup. She was not happy to lose that tasty morsel!

Thats about two hours, folks. TWO HOURS.  SAME GREEN BEAN.
Yeah, so thats a little quirky I would say.
This happens every time I give her green beans.

Lastly, Emsley likes to pull her shirt up and over her paci. This started about a month ago and she hasn't stopped since. Also, one-piece footie PJs are now forbidden because she drops her paci under the shirt, then it falls down to her leg and she can't get it out...commence MELTDOWN.

Love them so much!!

1st trip to discovery center

I celebrated my 24th birthday on Saturday!
For breakfast we went to Cracker Barrel, home of the world's best pancakes. The girls showed me how excited they were to celebrate mommy's birthday by spilling water everywhere, throwing pieces of biscuit, and making our table look really embarassing.
Then we went to Discovery Center!

 The girls loved the baby room with lots of foam tunnels and fun "sensory sticks" to play with...

 Daddy and baby (not sure who...haha)

My favorite part of Discovery Center is the live animals, mainly the turtles. This is a giant snapping turtle/dinosaur, and he will eat you if you so much as look at him. Also, he is 2000 years old (don't argue with me, its true, just LOOK at him!)

Joel liked the cars. Actually, he liked pretty much everything. It was harder getting him to leave the museum than it was my two toddlers. Seriously!

The girls got bored with the baby stuff and then we found the toy trains with lots of other kids...jackpot. Emsley LOVED hanging out with all the other kids and the table was just the right height for her!

Summer joined in on the fun (left)

 Summer wasn't as obsessed with the trains, so she ended up playing computer games with daddy:

Can't wait to go back again when they are walking! It will be much more fun!

our little trip to Portland

While we were in Oregon, Joel and I left the kiddos with my parents and drove to Portland for a fun little mini vacation within our vacation! Unfortunately I didn't take any good pictures of us because we were too busy shopping the Nordstrom and IKEA sales (such great timing on our part!!).

We stayed at Hotel Modera. It was modern and hip and oh so Portland-ish!

On our way home we stopped at Voodoo Donuts. Yes, that is a maple bar with bacon on it. I thought it was going to be amazing because I really love bacon, but instead I found myself being grossed out by the giant meat slices on my perfect maple bar delight. So instead my favorite was the fruit loops one.

We also stopped by the Portland LDS temple which was even more beautiful than I had expected, but unfortunately it was closed for maintenance so we just had to look from outside the gate!

Thank you again mom and dad for watching the girls while we were gone!!